An old hunting knife has sparked a reunion between old school mates on a Facebook page dedicated to memories of Alice Springs.

Eugene Blom, who still lives in the Centre, stole the knife over thirty years ago and posted his confession earlier this week.

"This is a G96 knife. It has burned a hole in my conscience from the day I stole it on a school camp in 1978," he writes.

"It belongs to the nicest bloke you would ever meet...it was a present from his sister."

The post attracted hundreds of 'likes' and comments on the Growing Up in Alice Springs forum which has over 11,000 members.

One comment was from the original owner of the knife, Peter Haines - now based in Perth.

"Well, bloody hell, I long wondered what happened to that knife," he writes.

"...would you believe I still have the original pouch?"

Mr Blom has politely declined to speak to the ABC but gave his permission to use some of the material contained in his posts.

Meanwhile, there are plans for a reunion, and a beer, between Eugene and Peter later in the year.

The below is taken from Eugene Blom's original post in the forum...

Mate, I have carried this burden and cherished it for you, I have skinned and gutted hundreds of rabbits, and taken it on many, many camps. It has seen blood and red sand, it has been to Europe and it has been confiscated by the airline that sanned [sic] it in my duffelbag, and they gave it back! It hollowed out an old pressure hose and got me on the road again when my car broke down at Daly Waters. I became Venturer leader, and later followed my kids through Joeys, cubs and scouts. And every time the knife came out, I would tell a kid the story of my shame, how you should never steal, and how you should always have the courage to do whats [sic] right.

Mate, I am soo sorry, and if you pm me your address I will send it off to you. This knife should have been on your adventures and explorations. Crikey, it looks like you were in the friggin Himalayas! I don't beg your forgiveness, because you owe me nothing. If anything, this knife has done the world a lot of good, but it is yours, and I would be glad to return it, just so you can tell your kids or whoever you want to bequeathe it to when you go.. that this knife has a history, that it did some important stuff, and that it eventually came home.